Jim O’Rourke releases Old News No. 9, the first to feature ALL NEW material

In 2011, the world was changed when Editions Mego announced a series of vinyl-only records from the one, the only, limited-edition, embossed hologram, 14kt gold, new and improved human that is Jim O’Rourke. The eMego series started in June 2011 with volume 5 (the first four were self-released in Japan from 2002-2005). After that, came volume 6. And after that, volume 7. Then, out of nowhere and defying all expectations, volume 8 was released. Life, while completely chaotic, random, miserable, and empty of meaning, punctuated by an acute awareness of world-weary insignificance and impending death, was good.

But during those many moments of hedonistic O’Rourke listening sessions, did you ever think about what was up with volume 9? Did you ever once think about how the eight Steamroom releases on his Bandcamp page could’ve signaled the end of the Old News series??

Of course you didn’t. That’s why I’m the journalist making the big bucks, here today to happily objectively report that O’Rourke has announced, after roughly a year since volume 8, the release of Old News No. 9. But it’s not really all that old of news, as the ninth installment features a brand new composition, recorded in Tokyo from 2012 to 2013. According to eMego: “The work here showcases the kind of experimental concrete drift which O’Rourke has been exploring for a number of years resulting in a magical blend of musical abstraction. Whistling drones morph into crystalised rain, shortwave chaos folds into haunting organ landscapes and the intimacy of this particular journey is witnessed through the ebbing tides of sound that emanate throughout this monumental release.”

In 2011, the world was changed when Editions Mego announced a series of vinyl-only records from the one, the only, limited-edition, embossed hologram, 14kt gold, new and improved human that is Jim O’Rourke. The eMego series started in June 2011 with volume 5 (the first four were self-released in Japan from 2002-2005). After that, came volume 6. And after that, volume 7. Then, out of nowhere and defying all expectations, volume 8 was released. Life, while completely chaotic, random, miserable, and empty of meaning, punctuated by an acute awareness of world-weary insignificance and impending death, was good.

But during those many moments of hedonistic O’Rourke listening sessions, did you ever think about what was up with volume 9? Did you ever once think about how the eight Steamroom releases on his Bandcamp page could’ve signaled the end of the Old News series??

Of course you didn’t. That’s why I’m the journalist making the big bucks, here today to happily objectively report that O’Rourke has announced, after roughly a year since volume 8, the release of Old News No. 9. But it’s not really all that old of news, as the ninth installment features a brand new composition, recorded in Tokyo from 2012 to 2013. According to eMego: “The work here showcases the kind of experimental concrete drift which O’Rourke has been exploring for a number of years resulting in a magical blend of musical abstraction. Whistling drones morph into crystalised rain, shortwave chaos folds into haunting organ landscapes and the intimacy of this particular journey is witnessed through the ebbing tides of sound that emanate throughout this monumental release.”

About a month ago, Inga Copeland copeland put up a new, self-produced track on a new YouTube channel, and the only thing unimpressive about it was how predictably awesome it sounded. This was the first peek at a post-Hype Williams solo career, and though it wasn’t a major break from the style of her earlier material, it was nice to have tangible proof that copeland wasn’t a made-up puppet person controlled by BuzzFeed.

Now for some more tangibility: copeland has a new white label 12-inch up for preorder, “UKmerge/Strict,” released on a seemingly new imprint of Rush Hour called All Bone, just as that first 12-inch was the debut release on Rush Hour imprint No ‘Label’. Joining copeland on both sides is John T. Gast, who “funnily enough” has connections to Hype Williams — for one thing, he’s the opening act on nearly half of Dean Blunt’s upcoming Euro dates, but even before that, he was (un)credited as a producer for Black Is Beautiful (TMT Review) under the moniker Henny Moan. (Yes, somehow you can be NOT credited under an alias.) Gast and Moan both have a few releases out there in the world, and FYI he’s shared a few of them online, if you’re a whiz at using Bing.

The preorder site has a couple extended samples of both tracks, or if you’re sick like me, you can listen to this hour-long mix thing recently uploaded by Gast, which has both tracks featured within:

In the future, copeland has plans for more solo productions as well as collabs with DVA, The Bug, and Martyn, and here are a few upcoming live dates:

Box sets box sets BOX SETS!!!! If there’s one thing beloved by all of Western Civilization, it’s a comprehensive vinyl reissue box set. Especially if it’s an 11LP reissue of all six of Suede’s studio LPs in a release described by The Quietus as “lavish.” Oh behave!!!!!

You’ll get the legendary Britpop group’s self-titled 1993 debut all the way up to their sixth studio album (this year’s Bloodsports). PLUS the 1997 B-sides compilation Sci-Fi Lullabies. PLUS when you pull the first LP out of this limited-edition box set, an entire turn-of-the-century gentleman’s study pops up, replete with sexy but discreet maidservants, vintage Moet, and a domesticated pet alligator named Freddy who only eats caviar (not people, Freddy’s tasted are more refined). Lavish!!! All this can be yours on October 21, when The Vinyl Collection hits stores. Or you can see them live for slightly less money; see dates below.

Dude, what’s up Kurt Vile??! You’re all, like, ruining laziness for the rest of us, man… I just, like, totally read (well, kinda skimmed-over at least) over at self-titled that you’ve got big, “ambitious” plans for the expanded edition of your most recent album Wakin on a Pretty Daze (TMT Review), which is called Deluxe Daze (Post Haze) and is coming on November 19 via Matador? Including “new artwork from the legendary street artist ESPO and a special new bonus EP of all-new stuff called it’s a big world out there (and i am scared), the latter of which is also available as a 12inch?

Like, are you kidding me? What the fuck is next, man? Are you gonna, like, laboriously upload that private “KV mixtape” thing of songs that you dig from Floyd and Ween and Big Star and shit from earlier this year to freakin’ SoundCloud and then feign a little sloth by claiming that you’re doing it “for the purpose of loose/good vibes”?!? I mean, Jesus CHRIST, man. PLEASE stop ruining it for the rest of us. My girlfriend is gonna start to get IDEAS when she hears about all this… this STUFF you’re doing with your time. For shame.

With his Flying V guitar and always-present mustache, William “Bill” Bartell, better known as Pat Fear, made his mark on music in the Inland Empire and beyond.

Bartell founded White Flag in the early 1980s in Sunnymead, before the area became incorporporated as part of Moreno Valley.

White Flag took the ideals of the burgeoning Los Angeles punk scene and turned them upside down in a tongue-in-cheek fashion.

The singer and guitarist was found dead in his Moreno Valley home Monday, Sept. 24. The initial report from the Riverside County coroner’s office said the death was due to natural causes, but that results of the standard toxicology tests are pending.

Friends said Bartell had been struggling with declining health.

White Flag released the debut LP “S is for Space” in 1982 and put out more than 20 other releases over the years.